‘Is It Normal To Be in a Relationship and Still Pound the Pud?’ — Ask Dr. Harry Fisch

"Is it normal to masturbate even when you’re in a relationship?" -- Frank, 24, Las Vegas

It’s totally normal.

A recent study found that nearly 85% of men who were living with a sexual partner reported masturbating in the past year. And that same study found that nearly half of women in a relationship masturbate.

After the first erotic phase of a relationship subsides, people discover that they aren’t always horny at the same time. Masturbation fills the need for sexual release when your partner either isn’t around or isn’t interested in sex.

It’s not a problem unless you get addicted to porn or become so used to pleasuring yourself that you can’t get aroused by your partner any more.

Dr. Harry Fisch is a board certified urologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Each week, he’ll answer reader questions in an effort to get guys to "man up about health."